Police prosecutors in Banjul have issued arrest warrant on dozens of military officers accusing them of killing by different methods and disposing bodies in wells and secret graves in Foni forests during the former regime of Yahya Jammeh.
By Baba Sillah
General Sulayman Badgie, Lt Col Solo Bojang, Lt Col Nuha Badgie, Major Momodou Jarjue, Captain Mustapha Sanneh, Captain Michael Jatta, Staff Sgt Sulayman Sambou, WO1 Nfansu Nyabally and Captain Saikouba Jarjue are alleged to have conspired among themselves sometime in the month of June 2013 in Kanilai with malice and unlawfully caused the death of Ebou Jobe and Alhagie Mamud Ceesay by beheading them with a machete.
Another batch Ousman Sonko [former Interior Minister], Lt Yusupha Sanneh, Sgt Sainey Jammeh[Chess], Saikou Jallow, Lt Michael Sang Correa, Cpt Michael Jatta , Major Sanna Manjang, Major Mustapha Sanneh and Borra Colley are accused of conspiring among themselves in 2006 with malice and unlawfully caused the death of Daba Marena, Manlafi Corr, Ebou Lowe, Alieu Ceesay, Alpha Bah, Julia and Masireh Jammeh by shooting them and throwing their bodies into an old well near Bulloborr village.
Also according to the police, Lt Col Nuha Badgie, Major Momodou Jarju, Cpt Mustapha Sanneh, Cpt Michael Jatta, WO1 Nfansu Nyabally, Staff Sgt Sulayman Sambou, WO2 Malick Manga and Cpl Saikouba Jarju are accused of conspiring among themselves sometime in 2013 at Tintinba forest in West Coast Region and unlawfully caused the death of Ndure Cham by shooting him and burying his body at Tintinba forest.
WO2 Malick Manga, Lt Col Nuha Badgie, Staff Sgt Sulayman Sambou, Major Momodou Jarju, Cpt Mustapha Sanneh and Cpt Michael Jatta are accused of conspiring among themselves in August 2016 at Santanba village in Foni district and diverse places with malice and unlawfully caused the death of Tumani Jallow and Abdoulie B Gaye by suffocating them and burying their bodies.
Major Sanna Manjang, Cpt Mustapha Sanneh, WO1 Nfansu Nyabally and Ismaila Jammeh are further accused of conspiring among themselves sometime in the month of April 2006 within the Foni district and diverse places with malice and jointly caused the death of Ndongo Mboob by shooting him and throwing his body into an old well.
Major Sanna Manjang alone is accused of murder on a separate charge sheet. According to the police bill of indictment, Mr Manjang sometime in 2006 within the Foni district and diverse places with malice unlawfully caused the death of Haruna Jammeh and dropped his body in a well within the Foni district. He is further accused of causing the death of Dawda Nyassi by shooting him in his head.
Prosecutors further alleged Major Sanna Manjang and Kawsu Camara alias Bombardier over the death of Deyda Hydara sometime in 2004.
The police prosecutor, Inspector Saja Sanyang who appeared for the Inspector General of Police applied to the court for the arrest warrant to be issued on the accused persons who are all at large to face trial. He further appealed to the court to transfer the matter to the High Court since the offences are all capital offences which was granted by the presiding Magistrate Isatou Janneh-Njie.